Multi-color body tinting

[Aresnir]

For my total conversion bionicle mod I supposed to create a more customizable characters with different armor parts and color variations. And would be good if will be a possibility to change color tint of some body parts (for example legs, forearms) to different color then whole body (via Race menu). I understood how to add RGB tint option in model shader in NifScope. Also I know about tint masks and created them.

But how to assign tint mask to a body part model? In Skyrim tint masks uses only on facegen textures...

 

Is this all possible to make? If yes so how?

[Aresnir]

Any ideas?

 

Forget multi-color tinting, i suppose it impossible to make. But how to assign tint masks to body parts meshes?

[IsharaMeradin]

I don't think you can. the think masks are actual DDS images of the face with all parts not in use by the tint in black and used parts in white. the white gets replaced in game by the color and the layers are overlapped to make the face as a whole. There is no ability to extend it down to the body since the tint masks are additional image layers to the head mesh.

 

What you could do is actually modify the texture file for the body mesh to be preset colors and utilize the weight slider settings with the swap texture list populated with up to 11 distinct texture sets...

[Aresnir]

Thank you for answer, IsharaMeradin!

I know what tint mask do and how to create them. But why they don't be used on other body parts, but only head? I try to change shader type of body mesh to "FaceTint" (same as in standard head mesh), but it did not give effect...

 

Thank you also for idea to use weight slider. Could you describe this more detailed?

[IsharaMeradin]

Thank you for answer, IsharaMeradin!

I know what tint mask do and how to create them. But why they don't be used on other body parts, but only head? I try to change shader type of body mesh to "FaceTint" (same as in standard head mesh), but it did not give effect...

 

Thank you also for idea to use weight slider. Could you describe this more detailed?

It's rather simple in usage & setup, but making the textures themselves could be the major drawback

 

Anyway...

 

If you look in the Creation Kit under the Armor section in the Object Window you'll find a form called SkinNaked, this form controls the torso, feet & hands for all humans, elves & orcs. The argonians & khajiit are controlled by SkinNakedBeast. At any rate if you look at this form you'll see a box at the bottom middle that lists some models, if you tick the box next to Show All you'll get a list of all assigned models. These models correspond to Armor Addon forms. One that I know is on there is called NakedTorso.

 

If you go to the Armor Addon section and locate the NakedTorso form, you'll notice on it that its broken in three distinct sections. The left is the gender assignment of meshes & textures, the middle is what body slot it will override & display on, the right is what races can use this form. What you are interested in is the the left side, especially the texture assginments. There are two entries one which can point to a specific texture set and another which can point to a form list that can contain up to 11 textures to be used with the weight slider.

 

So now that you know where the texture stuff is assigned you've got to make your texture sets. If you look in the Miscellaneous section in the Object Window you'll find a subsection called Texture Sets. Open that up and look on the right hand side for the assigned texture set on the armor addon form you were just looking at. Open that texture set form, you should see a series of image maps that are assigned to this form. What you need to do is make your texture sets and then assign them to new forms that are setup just like this one. Then you head over to the subsection called FormLists under Miscellaneous make a new form list, move that window to the side, go back to your texture sets that you've created then drag and drop them in the form list. Then you go back to the armor addon form and change the swap texture list to the one you just made.

 

Save plugin and test in game. Do note that the order of the texture sets is the order in which they'll be available for use. Meaning set 0 = weight 0; set 1 = weight 10; etc.... you can do less that 11 sets but how it handles the gaps is anyone's guess.

 

hope that helps

[Aresnir]

Thank you very much!

Was not worth to describe process as much detail. I have some experience in creating new races, but I didn't knew about weight slider that also changes texture. Now i will use this method in my mod. Thank you once more!